Dry wiping system for automobiles

Abstract

A dry wiping system for use in a mechanized car wash establishment in which an automobile moves along a defined path comprises a series of strips of water absorbent material suspended from a carrier above the path of the automobile. The carrier, which moves the strips so that they wipe across the wet exterior surfaces of the automobile, is guided along a circuit which causes the strips to be carried across the path of the automobile at an angle such that the strips have a substantial component of motion in a direction opposite the motion of the automobile substantially throughout each traverse of the path. Preferably, the circuit of motion is of triangular form and the system also includes a pair of power driven wringer rollers positioned to receive the strips after they have passed across the automobile to dewater the strips prior to their next excursion across the automobile.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privelege is claimed are as follows: 
     
       1. An automobile dry wiping apparatus for use in a mechanized car wash establishment through which automobiles are moved along a defined path, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of elongated wiper strips;   elongated endless circulating carrier means;   individual mounting means for said strips, suspending said strips from said carrier means at successive locations along said carrier means;   means supporting, driving and guiding said carrier means to move in a defined substantially horizontal circuitous path overlying and extending transversely beyond opposite sides of said defined automobile path, those portions of said circuitous path along which the wiper strips are positioned to move in wiping contact with an automobile advancing along its defined path being so oriented relatively as to advance said wiper strips with a component of motion that is directed opposite the advancement of the automobile.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the carrier means is guided in a substantially triangular path, two sides of said triangular path defining two traversing sweeps, each sweep extending transversely beyond opposite sides of said path being angled oppositely in relation to the direction of advancement of the automobile. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein the mounting means for the wiper strips supports the same substantially overlapped and oriented in substantially parallel relationship when executing said traversing sweeps. 
     
     
       4. An automobile dry wiping apparatus for use in a mechanized car wash establishment through which automobiles are moved along a defined path, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of elongated wiping strips;   elongated endless circulating carrier means;   individual mounting means for said strips, suspending said strips from said carrier means at successive locations along said carrier means;   means supporting, driving and guiding said carrier means to move in a defined substantially horizontal circuitous path overlying and extending transversely beyond opposite sides of said defined automobile path, those portions of said circuitous path along which the wiper strips are positioned to move in wiping contact with an automobile advancing along its defined path being so oriented relatively as to advance said wiper strips with a component of motion that is directed opposite the advancement of the automobile, said mounting means supporting said wiper strips substantially overlapped and oriented in substantially parallel relationship when in wiping contact with said automobile, said mounting means and said carrier means cooperating to effect fanning out of the wiper strips while moving in those portions of the circuitous path beyond the sides of said defined automobile path;   wringer means operatively engaging said wiper strips in successive order as they fan out in said circuitous path movement.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein the wiper strips include absorbent strips secured to the lower ends of relatively heavy suspender strips. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein the mounting means comprises cantilever arms projecting from the carrier means and supporting the suspender strips. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein the carrier means comprises a chain having successive elongated links to which said cantilever arms are fastened in projecting relationship extending from, and not more than a few degrees out of parallel with, said links respectively, said guide means including sprocket means around which said chain turns and in so doing fans out the cantilever arms supporting said suspender strips. 
     
     
       8. An automobile drying apparatus for use in a mechanized car wash establishment through which automobiles are moved along a defined path, said apparatus comprising; an endless chain, having successive elongated links;   a frame for holding said chain above the path of the auto such that said chain is free to move circuituously in a substantially horizontal plane, the circuit of said chain generally describing a triangle with two sides angled oppositely to said path and extending laterally beyond the sides of said path;   a plurality of wiper trips of flexible, water absorbent material;   means for suspending said strips from successive links of said chain along the length of said chain;   means for moving said auto along said defined path; and,   means for driving said chain along said triangular circuit in a direction such that, as said chain moves along said triangle sides across the path of the auto, a component of motion of said chain is in a direction opposite the direction of advancement of the auto along said defined path.   
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 8 further including wringer means located adjacent the path of the auto for dewatering said water absorbent wiper strips. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said wringer means comprises cooperating wringer rollers; means for mounting said ringer rollers in a generally upright, parallel position stationed adjacent the path of the automobile; strip guide means so positioned and formed as to lead said water absorbent wiper strips into the wringer rollers after said strips have been drawn across the automobile; and means for driving said wringer rollers. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 10 further including pressurized water spray nozzle means disposed adjacent said wringer rollers to wet said water absorbent wiper strips immediately before they enter the nip of the rollers. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said wiper strips comprise chamois-like sheets of material. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising relatively heavy, suspender strips of flexible material connected directly to said chain, the lower ends of said supporting strips being detachably connected to said wiper strips. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said suspender strips have a first end formed into a loop and further including a plurality of cantilever arms attached to alternate links of said chain and extending therefrom not more than a few degrees out of parallel with said links, said suspender strips being attached to said chain by sliding said looped ends of said suspender strips over said cantilever arms. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 13 herein said suspender strips have a first end formed into a loop and further including a plurality of tubes, each one of said tubes being inserted within said looped end of an associated one of said suspender strips; a plurality of cables, each of which is inserted through an associated one of said tubes; and,   clamping means for clamping the ends of each of said cables to a different one of said chain links.   
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said lower ends of said suspender strips are formed into loops, each of said loops having an opening formed therein intermediate the ends of said loops and further including a supporting rod inserted into each of said loops, said wiper strips being looping over said rod and supended therefrom through said opening. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said opening is an elongate slot, oriented transversely to said strip.